Introduction to Research

Dr. Abhijeet Singh Chauhan

Research
• Research is a process to discover new knowledge to find answers to a
question. The word research has two parts re (again) and search (find)
which denote that we are taking up an activity to look into an aspect
once again or we want to look for some new information about
something.
• Clifford Woody states that research comprises defining and redefining
problems, formulation of hypothesis; collection, organizing and
evaluation of data; and reaching conclusions. Here it is emphasized
that all research has to be systematic and logical to arrive at expected
outcome.
Business Research
• Business research, as we use it in this text, is a systematic inquiry that provides
information to guide managerial decisions. More specifically, it is a process of
planning, acquiring, analyzing, and disseminating relevant data, information, and
insights to decision makers in ways that mobilize the organization to take
appropriate actions that, in turn, maximize performance.
How to ensure a good quality Research?
• Purpose should be clearly defined.
• Common concepts should be used that can be understood by all.
• Research procedures should be explained in detail.
• Research design should be carefully planned.
• Researcher should declare all the possible errors and their possible impact on findings.
• Analysis of data should be sufficiently adequate to reveal significance.
• The methods of analysis should be appropriate.
• The validity and reliability of the data should be checked carefully.
• The researcher should good command over research methodologies and should be intelligent and
experienced.
• Ethics in research refers to a code of conduct of behavior while conducting research. Ethical
conduct applies to the organization and the members that sponsor the research, the researchers
who undertake the research, and the respondents who provide them with the necessary data.
 MOTIVATION IN RESEARCH
 Desire to get a research degree along with its
consequences benefits.
 Desire to face the challenges in solving problems.

 Desire to get intellectual joy of doing some creative

work.
 Desire to be of service of society.

 Desire to get respectability.

 RESEARCH PROCESS

Review the Literature

Review
Concepts
And Design Collect Data
Define theories Setting Formulate Research Data Analysis
Research Objectives hypothesis (Including (Execution)
Problem Sample
Review
Previous Design) F F

I Research III IV VII

findings V VI
Interpret
and
II report
F

F Feed Back VIII

 Types of Research
From the view point of

Application Objectives Type of Information Sought

Exploratory Quantitative
Pure Research Research
Research

Descriptive Qualitative
Applied Research Research
Research

Correlation
Research

Explanatory
Research
 PURE RESEARCH

Pure Research is undertaken for the sake of knowledge without any

interest to apply it in practice.

Example: Gravitational pull

Contributions of Pure Research:

 It offers solutions to many problems.
 It research helps to find the critical factors in a practical problem.
 It develops many alternative solutions and thus enables us to
choose the best solution.
 APPLIED RESEARCH
 Applied research is carried on to find solution to a real life
problem requiring an action or policy decision.
 It is thus problem oriented and action directed.
 It seeks an immediate and practical result.
 It also contributes to the development of theoretical
knowledge by leading to the discovery of new facts or testing
of a theory or to conceptual clarity.

Example: Marketing research carried on for the developing a

new market or for studying the post purchase experience of
customers.
 EXPLORATORY RESEARCH
 Exploratory Research is preliminary study of an unfamiliar problem about
which the research has little or no knowledge.
 It is similar to a Doctor’s initial investigation of patient suffering from any
symptoms for getting some clues for identifying it.
 It is ill structured and much less focused on pre determined objectives. It
usually takes the form of a pilot study.
 Though it is a separate type of research, it is appropriate to consider it as
the first stage of a three stage process of exploration, description and
experimentation.
 An exploratory study does not aim at testing the hypothesis. According to
Daniel Katz, it just attempts to see what is there rather than to predict the
relationships that will be founded.
 Exploratory study focuses on two levels at first level is the discovery of the
significant variables in the situation and at the second the discovery of
relationship between variables.
 Exploratory research is necessary to get initial insight into the problems for
the purpose of formulating them for more precise investigation. Hence it is
also known as formulative research.
 PURPOSES OF EXPLORATORY RESEARCH
 To generate new ideas.
 To increase the researcher’s familiarity with the problem.

 To make a precise formulation of the problem.

 To gather information for clarifying concepts.

 To determine whether it is feasible to attempt the study.

 DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH
 Descriptive Research is fact finding investigation with
adequate interpretation.
 It is the simplest type of research.
 It is more specific than an exploratory study, as it has focus
on particular aspects or dimensions of the problem studied.
 It is designed to gather descriptive information and provides
information for formulating more sophisticated studies.
 Data are collected by using one or more appropriate methods
like: observation, interviewing and mail questionnaire.
 A descriptive study aims at identifying the various
characteristics of a community or institution or problem
under study, but it does not deal with the testing of
proposition or hypothesis.
 CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH
 Correlational Research is also known as
Associational Research.
 Relationships among two or more variables are
studied without any attempt to influence them.
 Investigates the possibility of relationships between
two variables.
 There is no manipulation of variables in
Correlational Research.
 PURPOSE OF CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH
 Correlational studies are carried out to explain
important human behaviour or to predict likely
outcomes (identify relationships among variables).
 If a relationship of sufficient magnitude exists
between two variables, it becomes possible to
predict a score on either variable if a score on the
other variable is known (Prediction Studies).
 The variable that is used to make the prediction is
called the predictor variable.
PARTIAL CORRELATION
CIRCLE DIAGRAMS ILLUSTRATING
RELATIONSHIPS AMONG
VARIABLES
BASIC STEPS IN CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH

 Problem selection
 Choosing a sample
 Selecting or choosing proper instruments
 Determining design and procedures
 Collecting and analysing data
 Interpreting results
WHAT DO CORRELATIONAL COEFFICIENTS
TELL US?
 The meaning of a given correlation coefficient depends on
how it is applied.

 Correlation coefficients below .35 show only a slight

relationship between variables.

 Correlations between .40 and .60 may have theoretical

and/or practical value depending on the context.

 Only when a correlation of .65 or higher is obtained, can

one reasonably assume an accurate prediction.

 Correlations over .85 indicate a very strong relationship

between the variables correlated.
 EXPLANATORY RESEARCH
 Causal research, also known as explanatory
research is conducted in order to identify the extent
and nature of cause-and-effect relationships.
 Causal research can be conducted in order to assess
impacts of specific changes on existing norms, and
various processes etc.
 Causal studies focus on analysis of a situation or a
specific problem to explain the patterns of
relationships between variables.
EXAMPLES OF CAUSAL RESEARCH (EXPLANATORY
RESEARCH)

The following are examples of research objectives

for causal research design:
 To assess the impacts of direct investment on the
levels of production in the plant.
 To analyse the effects of re-branding initiatives on
the levels of customer loyalty.
 To identify the nature of impact of work process re-
engineering on the levels of employee motivation.
ADVANTAGES OF CAUSAL RESEARCH (EXPLANATORY
RESEARCH)

 Causal studies may play an instrumental role in

terms of identifying reasons behind a wide range
of processes, as well as, assessing the impacts of
changes on existing norms, processes etc.
 Causal studies usually offer the advantages of
replication if necessity arises
 This type of studies are associated with greater
levels of internal validity due to systematic
selection of subjects
DISADVANTAGES OF CAUSAL RESEARCH
(EXPLANATORY RESEARCH)
 Coincidences in events may be perceived as cause-and-effect
relationships. For example, forecasting the duration of winter for
five consecutive years, nevertheless, it is just a rodent without
intellect and forecasting powers, i.e. it was a coincidence.
 It can be difficult to reach appropriate conclusions on the basis of
causal research findings. This is due to the impact of a wide range
of factors and variables in social environment. In other words,
while casualty can be inferred, it cannot be proved with a high
level of certainty.
 It certain cases, while correlation between two variables can be
effectively established; identifying which variable is a cause and
which one is the impact can be a difficult task to accomplish.
 Exploratory Descriptive
Causal research research
research

Amount of
uncertainty
Clearly defined Highly ambiguous Partially defined
characterising
decision situation
Key research
Research hypotheses Research question Research question
statement
Later stages of Early stage of Later stages of
When conducted?
decision making decision making decision making
Usual research
Highly structured Unstructured Structured
approach

‘What kind of people

‘Will consumers buy ‘Our sales are
patronize our stores
more products in a declining for no
compared to our
blue package?’ apparent reason’
primary competitor?’
Examples ‘Which of two ‘What kinds of new
‘What product
advertising campaigns products are fast-
features are the most
will be more food consumers
important to our
effective?’ interested in?’
customers?’
Problem Identification and Formulation
Problem Identification and Formulation
Problem Identification and Formulation
Components of Research Problem
Sources of Identifying Research Problem
Formulation of Research Problem
Developing Research Questions
• Research questions express the research objectives in terms of questions
that can be addressed by research. For example, one of the key research
questions involved in the opening vignette is “Are wages and long-haul
distance related to driver loyalty and retention?” Hypotheses are more
specific than research questions. One key distinction between research
questions and hypotheses is that hypotheses can generally specify the
direction of a relationship. In other words, when an independent variable
goes up, we have sufficient knowledge to predict that the dependent
variable should also go up (or down as the case may be). One key
research hypothesis for Deland Trucking is:
• Higher cents per mile are related positively to driver loyalty.
Research Ethics
• Ethics are the set of rules that govern our expectations of our own and
others’ behavior.
• Research ethics are the set of ethical guidelines that guides us on how
scientific research should be conducted and disseminated.
• Research ethics govern the standards of conduct for scientific
researchers It is the guideline for responsibly conducting the research.
Objectives of Research Ethics
• The first and comprehensive objective – to guard/protect human
participants, their dignity, rights and welfare .
• The second objective – to make sure that research is directed in a
manner that assists welfares of persons, groups and/or civilization
as a whole.
• The third objective – to inspect particular research events and
schemes for their ethical reliability, considering issues such as the
controlling risk, protection of privacy and the progression of informed
consent.
Principles of Research Ethics
Broad Categorization of Research Ethics
Principles
Broad Categorization of Research Ethics
Principles
Broad Categorization of Research Ethics
Principles